Page Contributor(s): Patrick Morris, San Francisco, CA, USA - veloasia.com and indochinatravel.com
INTRO
Hai Van Pass ("Pass of the high clouds") Highway 1's Classic Climb - a must for all cyclists A short climb, but Vietnam's most famous pass - this old military road was the only one connecting North and South Vietnam and is the weather demarking line between north and the south. A highlight of all our "classic" tours as this day's ride is very picturesque from Hue to Hoi An. Now better since a tunnel road opened and most traffic does not take the pace. Wonderful views the whole way up.
The Hải Vân Pass is Vietnam’s most famous pass. Hai Van, or Pass of the High Clouds is aptly names for its summit is often shrouded in mist.
About 12 miles long on National Route 1A, winding over a spur of the Annamite Range that plunges dramatically into the South China Sea about the halfway point between north and south Vietnam. The pass was a formidable physical division between the ancient warring kingdoms of Champa and Việts, but the pass was in more recent era was also a challenge for transport trying to make their way from north to south Vietnam. In recent years, a tunnel has opened beneath the mountain, making the ride a far more pleasant experience and a must for any cyclist riding in Vietnam. On clear days, the summit features stunning views for dozens of miles past Da Nang to the south, and over the blue lagoon of Lang Co to the north all the way to Hue, the ancient capital. Note the ride from Hue to the summit of Hai Van, along the coast, is one of the country’s most scenic rides, though south of the pass becomes very busy around big-city Danang.